Perforating gun for oil well casings



Aug. 24, 1943. L. E. COUCH 2,327,340

PERFQRATING GUN FOR OIL WELL CASINGS V I Filed Dec( 9; 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Aug. 24, 1943. v L, COUCH 12,327,340

PERFORATING GUN FOR OIL WELL CASINGS Filed Dec. 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 24, 1943. couci- 2,327,340

PERFORATING GUN FOR OIL WELL CASINGS M a M /d ay i V ln ventor 1% i;

1 A itomeyS Aug. 24, 1943. E. coucH r 2,327,340

PERFORATING GUN FOR OIL WELL CASINGS Filed Dec. 9, 1940 5 Sheet-Sheet 4 Q76 jg. 14 j Z;- ;x: E .m z

45 44 Ihventor Aug. 24, 1943. L. E. COUCH PERFORATING GUN FOR OIL WELL CASINGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 1m. 9, 1940 Z c m r. g .e V v a a U. Q J y I B a 6 6 7 9 W 5 w a I a I 4 N l 4 4. J J 4 4 A I f P I W 1 W n. 4 lhqil 2 A 4 H N 3 V 3 3 4, 5 H M 3 Z 2 J w 3 4 no MW M arr? H a o 3 2 1 H o u I I m o V 4 J w z [a a /li z Patented Aug. 24, 1943 PERFOKATING GUN FOB OIL WELL CASINGS I 1 Lonnie E. Couch, Houston, Tex, assignor to Well Tool Development Corporation, a corporation of Texas Application December 9, 1940, SerialNo. 369,363 68 Claims, (Cl. 164-45) This is a continuation-impartapplication of my copending application Serial Number 310,045, filed December 19, 1939.

The present invention relates to a perforating gun for oil well casings and has for its primary object to provide a gun stock adapted to be lowered in the casing and embodying a time controlled mechanism for controlling the firing of a plurality of projectiles through the walls of the casing.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a safety slide for the firing pin for the projectile and adapted to be controlled by the raising and lowering movement of the gun stock in the casing.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in performance. relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more full hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the well casing showing the gun in position therein,

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the gun in position while being lowered in the casing and showing the cover plate for the firing mechanism.

Figure 3 is a similar view of the opposite side of the gun and showing the external control lever.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the upper end of the gun showing the position of the control cage for releasing the external control lever.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the gun.

Figures 6 and 'Z are transverse sectional views taken respectively on the lines 6-8 and 'l-l of Figure 5.

Figures 8 and 9 are transverse sectional views taken respectively on the lines 88 and 99 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on a line llll9 of Figure 5.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the hammer for the gun.

Figure 12 is asimilar view of the external control lever.

Figure 13 is a similar view of the removable cartridge block.

Figure 14 is a similar view of one of the projectiles.

Figure 15 is a similar view of the safety slide for the firing pin.

Figures 16 and 17 are views similar to Figures I 1 and 2 respectively and illustrating a modified stock and cartridge block construction.

a Figure 18 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the gun embodying the m'odiflcadrical stock I having a cable 8 attached at its upper end for raising and lowering the same in the casing. The upper portion of the stock is reduced as shown at 9, the upper end of the reduced portion being defined by a flange l0.

s A chamber H is formed in the stock within which is ,removably positioned a water-tight casing l2 having a cover plate [3 secured in position by screws or the like it and provided with a gasket l5 to seal the edges of the casing and chamber.

Secured within the casing is a tubularmember l6 within which is slidably mounted a hammer ll shown in detail in Figure 11 of the drawings. The hammer includes an annular flange l8 for guiding the hammer centrally in the tubu- I lar member l5 and to provide an abutment for one end of an expansible coil spring l9 positioned in the tubular member and held against a stationary abutment 29 formed in the upper portion of said tubular member and through which the hammer is slidably inserted. The upper portion of the tubular member above the abutment 20 is provided with longitudinally extending slotted openings 2! and 22 at diametrically opposite sides of the tubular member and within which is slidably positioned a crosshead 23 on the upper end of the hammer H.

The hammer is adapted to be projected down-- wardly bythe spring and the spring is held under tension with the hammer in acockedposition by means of a pivoted trip 24 having one portion of the control lever 32.

endyieldably held under the cross-head 23 means of a spring 25.

The trip is adapted to be actuated for releasing the hammer by means of a cam 26 formed on a gear 21 journaled in the casing l2 and which is operatively engaged b a clockwork mechanism shown generally at 28. The clock mechanism includes a control arm'29 for starting and stopping the mechanism, as need be, and is yieldably held in a stopped position by means of a coil spring 30. The control arm 28 is positioned in the path of the angular end 3| of an inner control lever 32 which is pivoted as at 33 within the casing I 2.

The control lever 32 is positioned somewhat vertically in the casing and has its lower end bifurcated as at 34 for engaging a pin 35 formed on a safety slide 36 movable into and out of position under the lower end of the tubular member IE to prevent the outward movement of the hammer I! when the parts are in position as shown in Figure of the drawings.

Slidably mounted in a lower portion of the casing I2 is a spring retracted firing pin 31 having its upper end disposed in the path of the lower end of the hammer I! for impact by said hammer when the latter is released. A cartridge block 38 is slidablymounted transversely of the stock 1 beneath the casing I2 and in the bottom portion of chamber ll, said block 38 being provided with a vertically extending chamber 39 within which is positioned a blank cartridge 40. the cartridge being positioned for discharge by the firing pin 31.

Communicating with the chamber 39 is a duct 4| extending longitudinally in the stock 1 and communicating with a plurality of chambers 42, one of which is shown in detail in Figure 5 of the drawings. Each of the chambers 42 is adapted to contain a charge of powder 43 behind a projectile 44 mounted in a barrel 45 threaded in the outer surface of the stock 1. The bore 45 of the barrel, at its inner end is flared as shown at 4'! for conformably receiving the flared inner end 48 of the projectile. The projectile 44 is constructed of steel with a pointed nose 49 for penetrating the casing 5 when the same is fired and the flared inner end 48 of the projectile is constructed of soft lead adapted to be fused or compressed into the reduced size of the bore 46 by the heat and pressure of the explosivecharge behind the projectile and is thus displaceable with the projectile. The flared end 48 further retards the discharge of the projectile whereby to insure the building up of suflicient pressure behind the projectile to cause the same to penetrate the casing. The flared construction further insures a liquid-tight seal which prevents moisture from penetrating into the chamber 42 to destroy effectiveness of the explosive.

Slidably inserted in the wall of the casing I2 is a link 50 provided with a packing gland 5|, the inner end of the link being provided with a pin 52 mounted in a slotted opening 53 in the upper The outer end of the link 50 is provided with a pin and slot con-, nection 54 with the lower end of an external control lever 55 which is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 56 to one side of the stock 1. The lever 55 is mounted within a vertically extending recess 58 formed in the side wall of the stock and the upper end of the lever is provided with a control head 59 behind which is positioned a leaf spring 60 for yieldably urging the head outwardly beyond the surface of the reduced portion 9 of the stock.

Slidably mounted on the reduced portion 9 of the-stock is a cage designated generally at 6| which includes a pair of vertically spaced rings 62 connected by a plurality of leaf springs 63 which are curved outwardly at their intermediate portions for frictional engagement with the inner surface of the casing 5.

The clock is provided with the usual hour and minute hands 64 and the usual alarm setting hand 65, so that the clock may be set to actuate the trip 24 at a predetermined lapse of time following the lowering of thegun in the casing.

In the operation of the device the hammer I1 is set in the position as shown in Figure 5, the load placed in position, including the blank cartridge 40, and the cage 6| moved into its uppermost position so that, the head 59 of the external control lever 55 is held inwardly against the pressure of the spring Bil. The gun is then lowered in the casing to the desired predetermined depth, and the frictional engagement of the cage with the wall of the casing will keep the cage in its uppermost position as shown in Figures 2 and 3. When the desired depth is reached a slight-u-pward movement of the cable 8 will raise the gun while the cage remains stationary and the head 59 is released by the cage as shown in Figure 4, thus permitting the spring 60 to move the lower end of the external control lever inwardly and actuating the internal control lever 32 which moves the clock control arm 29 to its starting or operative position and also removes the safety slide 38 away from the firing pin 31.

The trip 24 is subsequently actuated by the cam 28 to release the hammer and fire the blank cartridge, which in turn is effective to cause the explosion of the charge 43 of the several projectiles.

If desired, the spring 30 attached to the clock control arm 29 may be omitted, so that the control arm may be set in the position as shown in Figure 5, with the clock inoperative to cause release of hammer l1 before the device is lowered in the well, and will be moved into its operative position by the lever 32 upon a slight upward movement of the gun in the casing, after the gun has been lowered to the desired depth, as heretofore explained. Should it be desired to Withdraw the gun from the well without firing the charge, after the clock hasbeen operative, a subsequent lowering movement of the gun will cause the cage 63 to let the lower end of the arm 55 move outwardly and thus move the slide 36 into safety position, and prevent striking of the firing pin 31 by the hammer H, the safety slide receiving the blow of the hammer. After the hammer has been released and completed its firing action, the subsequent upward withdrawing movement of the gun from the well will move the safety slide from under the hammer, the firing force of the spring l9 then having been spent so'that there will be no danger of the charge being fired.

In Figures 16 to 19 inclusive I have illustrated a modified form of the invention involving a cartridge block 66, which terminates at its inner edge at the vertical plane of the inner edge of the casing l2, the block not extending entirely.

transversely of the stock and the cover plate 61 for the chamber l I and casing l2 extending downwardly to also cover the block. This construction aids in excluding moisture from the blank cartridge in the block.

It is believed the details of construction and ment of the stock in the casing to control actuamanner of use of the device will be readily understood without further detailed explanation.

What I claim as new is:

1. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for lowering in the casing, a plurality of gun barrels transversely in the stock, having firing communication with each other, a projectile mounted in each barrel having a firing charge adapted to propel the projectile through the wall of th casing, mechanical firing means for the charge, a movable safety member for the firing means and means actuated by a predetermined sliding movement of the stock in the casing to control actuation of the firing means on the down movement of the stock and to move said safety member into and out of safety position as required.

2. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for lowering in the casing, a gun barrel transversely of the stock, a chamber behind the barrel adapted for receiving an explosive charge, the inner end of the bore of the barrel being flared, a projectile fitted in the barrel and having a flared inner end of soft metal seated in the flared end of the bore in direct engagement with the charge and adapted to be displaceable through the bore for discharge with the projectile when the charge is fired and means for firing the charge.

3. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for lowering in the casing, a lateral chamber in the stock adapted to receive an explosive charge, a gun barrel removably fittted in the outer end of the chamber, a projectile for the bore of the barrel and a soft metal flang on the inner end of the projectile for directly engaging the charge and adapted to restrain immediate ejection of the projectile upon firing of the charge, said flange being displaceable through the bore for discharge with the projectile.

4. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted. for lowering in the casing, a lateral chamber in the stock adapted to receive an explosive charge, a gun barrel removably fitted in the outer end of the chamber, a projectile for the bore of the barrel and a soft metal flange on the inner end of the projectile having a liquid tight fit with the inner end of the barrel in direct engagement with the charge and adapted to restrain immediate ejection of the projectile upon firing of the charge, said flange being displaceable through the bore for discharge with the projectile.

5. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for lowering in the casing, a lateral chamber in the stock adapted to receive an explosive charge, a gun barrel threaded in the chamber. a, projectile fitted in the bore of the barrel and displaceable means sealing the projectile with the inner end of the barrel to restrain immediate ejection of the projectile upon firing of the charge, said displaceable means being in direct engagement with the charge for firing from the barrel with the projectile.

6. A casing perforating gun compris ng a stock adapted for lowering in the casing, a plurality of gun barrels transversely in the stock, a projectile mounted in each barrel having a firing charge adapted to propel the projectile through the wall of the casing and firing control means for thefiring charge of the projectile and comprising a firing pin, a spring actuated hammer for the pin, time controlled means for releasing the hammer and means actuated by a. predetermined moveticn of the time controlled means.

'7. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for lowering in the casing, a plurality of gun barrels transversely in the stock, a projectile mounted in each barrel having a firing charge adapted to propel the projectile through the wall of the casing and firing control means for-,the firing charge of the projectile and comprising a firing pin, a spring actuated hammer for the=pin,

a safety slide movable into and out of position between the pin and hammer to prevent contact therebetween, time controlled means for releasing. the hammer and means. controlled by the movement of the stock in the casing to. actuate the slide and to control the actuation of the time controlled means.

8. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for lowering in the casing, a plurality I of gun barrels transversely in the'stock, a pro-' jectilemounted in each barrel having a firing charge adapted to propel the projectile through the wall of the casing and firing control means for the firing charge of the projectile and comprising a firing pin, a spring actuated hammer for the pin, a safety slide movable into and out of position between the pin and hammer to pre' vent contact therebetween, time controlled means for releasing the hammer, a spring actuated v external control lever carried by the stock, means operatively connecting the lever with the slide and with the time controlled means, and a member slidably carried by the stock having frictional engagement with the casing and normally retaining the lever in a position" with the time controlled means inactive,-said stock being movable independently of the member upon the initial upward movement of the stock to release the lever and to uncover the firing pin.

9. A casing perforating. gun comprising a stockadapted for lowering in a casing, a gun barrel transversely in the stock, a projectile in the gun, a firing charge arranged in the stock to eject the projectile when fired, firing means for the projectile and including a firing pin, safety means for the pin, and means actuated by a predetermined sliding movement of the stock in the casingior controlling efiective actuation of the firing means on the down movement of the stock and for moving thesafety means into and out of safety position.

10. A casing perforating gun comprising. a stock adapted for lowering in a casing, a gun barrel'transversely of the stock, a projectile and a firing charge arranged in the gun, mechanical firing means for the projectile including means under compression to cause firing, when released, safety meansnormally preventing firing of the gun by the means under compression, and means actuated by a predetermined sliding movement of the stock in .the casing for controlling actuation of the firing means on the down movement of the stock and 'for moving the safety means both into or out of safety position.

11. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for lowering in a casing, a gun barrel transversely in the stock, a projectile including a firing charge in the barrel, firing means for the projectile and including a time controlled device, a stop for said device normally holding the same inactive or ineffective to cause ignition oi the firing charge and means actuated by a. predetermined movement ofthe stock in the casing for releasing said stop. i

12. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for lowering in a casing, a gun barrel transversely in the stock, a projectile and a firing charge in the gun, firing means for the projectile and including a time controlled device, a stop for said device normally holding the same inactive, a spring actuated member for releasing the stop and means normally holding the member against stop releasing movement, said holding means being controlled by a predetermined movement of the stock in the casing.

temporarily maintaining the firing means in operative position, and means actuated by way of predetermined movement of the stock in the casing and effective to cause release of the maintaining means to allow the firing means to operate to fire the charge.

-13. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for lowering in a casing, a gun barrel transversely in the stock, a projectile and a firing charge in the gun, mechanical firing means for the projectile and including a time controlled device, a stop for said device normally holding the same inactive, a safety means for the firing pin, a mechanism for releasing the stop and for moving the safety means into and out of safety position and means normally restraining actuation of the mechanism, said last named means being controlled by a predetermined movement of the stock in the casing.

14. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for lowering in a casing, a gun barrel transversely in the stock, a projectile and a firing charge in the gun, mechanical firing means for the projectile and including a time controlled device, a stop for said device normally holding the same inactive, a safety member normally covering the firing pin, a spring actuated mechanism for releasing the stop and for moving the safety member to uncover the pinand means normally restraining actuation of the mechanism, said last named means being controlled by a predetermined movement of the stock in the casing.

15. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for lowering in a casing, a gun barrel transversely in the stock, a projectile including a firing charge mounted in the stock and carried by the stock and arranged to be ejected out of gun barrel, mechanical firing means for the projectile and including a firing pin and a spring actuated hammer for the pin, a trip normally holding the hammer in cocked position, time controlled means for releasing the trip, a stop for the time controlled mechanism, a safety slide obstructing contact of the hammer with the pin, a spring actuated mechanism for releasing the'stop and for moving the slide to uncover the pin and means normally restraining actuation of the mechanism, said last named means being controlled by a predetermined movement of the stock in the casing.

16. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for lowering in a casing, said stock having a recess therein, a barrel transversely in the stock having a projectile mounted therein for firing therefrom, a firing pin for the projectile, mechanism for actuating the firing pin and including a spring actuated hammer, and a time controlled trip for the hammer, a closed housin for the mechanism removably secured in the recess and means carried by the stock outwardly of the housing and operatively connected to said mechanism for controlling actuation thereof.

17. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted to be lowered into a well casing, a gun barrel transversely in the stock, a projectile mounted to be ejected through the barrel, a firing charge for ejecting the projectile, when fired, mechanical firing means for firing the charge, means including a time controlled mechanism for 18. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted to be inserted into a casing, a gun barrel transversely in the stock, a projectile mounted in the stock to be projected through the barrel, a firing charge arranged, when fired, to eject said projectile, mechanical firing means including a firing pin, means for temporarily maintaining the firing means in cocked position, which when released will cause the cooked firing means to act, safety means normally in safety position to prevent firing of the charge and means arranged to be actuated by way of predetermined movement of the stock in the casing and efiective to move the safety means out of safety position to allow firing of said charge upon actuation of the firing means.

19. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for lowering in the casing, a gun barrel transversely of the stock, a chamber behind the barrel adapted for receiving an explosive charge, the inner end of the bore in the barrel being flared, a projectile fitted in the barrel and having at the inner end soft metal fitted in the flared end of the bore and directly confronting the charge and adapted to be displaceable through the bore for discharge with the projectile when the charge is fired, and means for firing the charge.

20. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted to be lowered into a well casing, a gun barrel transversely in the stock, a projectile mounted to be ejected through the barrel, a firing charge for ejecting the projectile when fired, mechanical firing means for firing the charge including means under compression, which when released will cause firing, means for maintaining the firin'g means inoperative to fire the firing charge, and means arranged to be actuated by Way of predetermined movement of the stock in the casing and effective to render the firing means operative to fire the charge.

21. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted to be used in a well casing, a gun barrel transversely in the stock, a projectile mounted to be ejected through the barrel, a firing charge for ejecting the projectile when fired, selfcarried mechanical firing means for firing the charge including means under compression, which when released will cause firing, means for maintaining the firing means inoperative, other means under compression, which when released by way of predetermined movement of the stock in the casing will be effective to render the firing means operative to fire the charge and means for releasing said other means.

22. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted to be lowered into a well casing, a gunbarrel transversely in the stock, a projectile mounted to be ejected through the barrel, a firing charge for ejecting the projectile when fired, mechanical firing means for firing the charge including means under compression, which when released will cause the firing, means for maintaining the firing means inoperative and means operable by predetermined movement of the stock 'in the casing to selectively render the firing means operative or inoperative to fire the charge. 23. A perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for use in a well, said stock having a the flared end of 1, tion of of the charge, a primer charge in the stock 'arranged to ignite the explosive charge, means for firingthe primer charge arranged to be rendered ineffective through manipulation of the placement means.

36. A casing"perforating gun comprising awell casing, a plurality 'stock' adapted for use in a of gun barrels transversely inthe stock, a projectile mounted 'in each of. said barrels, firing charges arranged in said stock and adapted to propel the projectiles through the well casin said firing charges having ignition communication for each other, firing means for the charges including a primer charge means, movable safety means for the firing means, and means arranged to control through movement of the stock in the casing effective actuation of the firing means and to move, said safety'member into and out of safety position.

3'7. A perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for use in a casing, means for locating the gun in the casing, a plurality of gun barrels transversely in the stock, a projectile mounted in each barrel adapted to be ejected therefrom, firing charges for the projectiles arranged in the gun to eject the barrels transverselymounted in said stoclr, each 5. barrel having a chamber'at the rear adapted' for i receiving an explosive charge in the gun; ,the

projectiles, said charges being 1 arranged for ignition communication for one another and adapted to propel the projectiles through the wall of the casing when firing I charges thereinare activated, firing means for the charges including a. primer charge, and means ,lfor activating the primer charge by way of manipulation of the locating means. V

33. A casing perfor ting gun comprising a stock adapted for. lowering in the casing, gun barrels transversely mounted in said stock, a chamber arranged for each barrel adapted for receiving nan explosive charge therein, the inner end of the bore in the barrels being fired, a projectile in each barrel having at the inner end relatively soft material conformably fitted in the flared end of l the bore and directly confronting a charge and I adapted to be ejected through the bore of the barrel for discharge with the projectile when the j charge isfired, a communication system for allowing ignition means to travel from one explosive charge to another for causing ignition of explosive charges which in turn eject the projectiles carried by said stock, and means for fir- ..ing a charge. v

'39. A casing perforating gun comprising a "stock adapted for lowering in the casing, gun barrel transversely mounted in said stock, a chamber arranged for each barrel adapted for receivingan'explosive charge therein, the inner end of the bore in the barrels being flared, a projectile in each barrel having at the inner end relatively soft material comformably fitted in the bore and directly confront ing a charge and adapted to be ejected through .the bore of :the barrel for substantial destruction the ejection of the projectile when the charge is'fired, a communication system for al- "f-lowing ignition means to travel from one explosive charge to another thereby causing igni- 'explosive charges which in turn eject i the projectiles'carried by said stock, and means for firi'n'g'ithe charges.

40. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for locating in a well casing, gun

innerfend of the 'bore in each barrel being flared,

a projectilefor each barrel having at the inner end relatively soft material conformably'fitted in the flared end of the bore and confronting a charge in the gun and adapted to be ejected through the bore of the barrel for discharge with the projectile when the charge is fired, a com"- munication system for allowing ignition'means;

to travel -from one explosive charge to another thereby causing ignition of' explosive charges which in turn eject the projectiles carried by said stock, and locating means carried by the gun for utilization in controlling firing of the charges.

41. A perforating gun for a well casing'shapedj l to be manipulated in a casing and comprising a body having a chamber, a projectile and a firing charge to eject the projectile arranged therein,

an ignition charge for the firing charge effec-' tively arranged in the body, 'firingmeans for activating the ignition charge, and means operable upon predetermined movement of the'body in the casing to cause effective operation of the firmg means to activate the ignition charge. I

42. A perforating gun for a wall casing com- I prising a stock having a chamber, means for placmg said gun in a, well casing, an explosiveoharge in the chamber, a projectile mounted in the stock to be ejected therefrom by explosion of the charge, a primer charge in the stock arranged to ignite the explosive charge, and means for firingthe primer charge and arranged tobe rendered effective to activate th'eprim er-charge through reciprocation of the placement n eans. 43. A perforating gun comprising a stocli adapted for use in a well,said stock having a recess therein, a barrel transversely in the 'stock having a projectile for ejection therefrom, a

closed housing secured in the recess of the stock,

firing means in said housingfor the projectile,

including means under compression, which when released will cause firing, a closed flame passage? way providing vignitingcommunication to efiectively ignite a firing charge for the projectile.

therein, and means carried by the stock outwardlyof the housing and operatively connected. to said;

firing means for controllingfiring of the firing charge. :1 1-

44-. A casing perforating gun-comprising a stock adapted for use in a well casing, means-for locating the gun in the casing, a-pluralityof gun, V by the stock, a projectile carried for each barrel and an explosive barrels transversely carried charge for each projectile, both carried bythe stock, said charges having -ignitioncommunicaf tion for one another-adapted to propel the pro-" jectiles through the wall of the casing, firing;

means for the charges,- controllable safety means for the firing means, and means actuated by way of predetermined utilization for the gun .in the casing by way of the locating means tpcontrol effective actuation of the firing ,means' and: to control said safety means.

, 45. A-.casing perforating gun comprising, a stock to be used in the casing; a gun barrel trans versely of the stock, having-a .bore, a projectile inthe barrel, a. chamber behind the barrel adapted to guide the explosive force of an ex-- plosive chargetherein substantially against the U rear end of said projectile 'r'nount'ed'in said barrel for' final ejection through thebore, of *the gun barrel, and relatively soft material at the rear end, of the projectile which is substantially'thel same size as far as exposed surfaces are concerned, one to the other as the explosive charge, and means for igniting the explosive charge.

46. A perforating gun adapted to be used in well casing, means for positioning the gun inside said casing; projectiles and explosive charges for the projectiles arranged in the projectiles upon ignition oi the explosive charges, firing means for igniting the explosive charges including means held under compression for causing the firing means to tire, and means for releasing means held under compression.

47. A perforating gun adapted to be used in well casing, means for positioning the gun inside said casing, projectiles and explosive charges for the projectiles arranged in the gun for pro--' polling the projectiles upon ignition of the explosive charges, firing means .for igniting the explosive charges including means held under compression to cause the firing means to fire, and means for releasing means held under compression.

48. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted to be used in casing, a gun barrel transversely of the stock, a projectile into the barrel, a chamber behind the barrel adapted to. propel the explosive force or an explosive charge therein substantially against the innerend of a projectile mounted in said gun for final ejection through the bore of the gun barrel and said projectile being substantially exposed to theme plosive charge, relatively soft material at the rear of the projectile which is substantially the same size as the charge in as far as exposed surfaces are concerned one to the other, and means for igniting the explosion charge.

49. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted to be used chamber the substantial force of which will act directly and substantially against an inward part of the projectile means, at said inward part of substantially the same diameter as the corresponding diameter of the explosion chamber and displaceable with the projectile to thereby utilize the substantial force of the explosion of an explosive charge so that the lines of explosive force substantially emerge behind said bullet through 'said bottleneck, which will be utilized as the projectile is being propelled, and gneans for igniting the explosive charge.

50. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted to be used in casing, a projectile and an explosive charge arranged in the gun so as to propel the projectile outwardly therefrom upon explosion of the charge, said explosive.

charges being substantially behind the inner end of the projectile, a bottleneck arrangement there-- in for converging the lines of force substantially behind the inner end of the projectile"so that the lines of force can act direct, and means for igniting the. charge.

51. A casing perforating gun comprising a stock adapted to be used in casing, projectiles and explosive charges arranged therein so as to gun ior propelling the in casing, a gun barrel transversely of the stock, a substantially closed.

outward end of the bore propel the projectiles outwardly therefrom upon explosion of the charges, firing means for the explosion charges, slidable safety means to con-,

tlring'or to control eilective, actuation :otrth trol eflective actuation oi the firing means, while the gun is being loweredinto the caslngnn adjustable means for. said ,slidable safety both to lose control of eflect'ive" actuatlom'or' casing without firing." v 52. A casing perforating gun adapted to; used in casing, means for positioning the gun casing. projectiles and explosive. charges at outwardly .thereirornupon explosion of the, charges, flring means for the charges,'safety. means for they firing means, said firin' explosion or th firing-means'for the charges including a flame passageway ior allowing ignitionmeans" to travel from the firing means to at least cineexplosive charge, and safety means normally in safety position and arranged to be moved to an inoperative position by way of predetermined utilization'of the positioning means.

58. A perforating gun comprising a stock adapted for use in a well, said stock having a ,recess therein, a gun barrel transversely in the stock having a, projectile to be propelled therefrom, aclosedhousing secured in the recess of l i the stock, means for positioning the gun in the ,well, firing mechanism in the housing for the projectile, and means carried by the stock outawardly of the housing and operatively associated to said firing mechanism for allowing the firing "means to operate by way of predetermined utili zation of the positioning means.

59. A perforating gun comprising a stock adapted foruse in a well, said stock having a ,recess therein, a gun barrel transversely inthe sto'ckhavin'g a projectile to be propelled there- Qfrom, a closed housing secured in the recess of the stock, means for positioning the gun in the well, firin'g m'eans including firing mechanism in 'thehousing for the projectile, slider means carried by the stock having a predetermined relationship to the firing means during downward movement of the gun in the well, and means for controlling the relationship by manipulation of I the placement means thereafter.

60. A perforating gun comprising a stock "adapted for-use in a well, said stock having a "recess therein, a gun barrel transversely in the stock having a projectile to be propelled therefrom, a closed'housing secured in the recess of the stock, means for positioning the gun in the well, firing means, including firing mechanism in the recess for the projectile, slider means carried by the stock having a predetermined relationship for the firing means during downward movement of the gun in the well, and means for "controlling the relationship by means of predetermined utilization of the placement means thereafter, and so the firing means can be ineffectively spent if desired without firing the projectile and thereafter the gun withdrawn from the well. j

'61. A perforating gun adapted to be used in well casing, means for positioning the gun inside said casing, projectiles and explosive charges for the projectiles arranged in the gun for propelling the projectiles upon ignition of the explosive charges, firing'means for igniting the explosive charges including means under compression which when released allows the firing means to operate, and means for releasing means under compression.

r 62. A perforating gun for well casing having projectiles and explosive charges therein arranged for propelling the projectiles outwardly therefrom upon ignition of the explosive charges, means for positioning the gun in the casing, and firing means forigniting the explosive charges predetermined movement of the positioning means to control both eifective'and inefiective operation of the firing means.

363. A perforating gun for well casing having projectiles and explosive charges therein arranged for propelling the projectiles outwardly therefrom upon ignition of the explosive charges, means for positioning the gun in the casing,

and firing means forigniting the explosive charges includingn eans essentially controlled by way of predetermined utilization of the posi-" tioning means to control both effective and ineffective operation of the firing means,.safety gun inany direction in the. c'asingandl adapted to cause the firing meansto be ineffective for.

withdrawal of the gun from the casing without firing the charges, said safety means being essen-" tially controlled by way -of predeterminedutilization of the positioning means, i

' means for the firing means for movement of the 64. A perforating gun for well casing having) projectiles and explosive charges therein. ar ranged for propelling the projectiles outwardly therefrom upon ignition of the'explosive charges,"

means for positioning the in the casing; y

firing means fOIj igniting. the explosive charges,

safety means for thje firinlgmeans for movement of the gun in anyclirection in the casing and,

adapted to cause the firing-meanstobe'ineffec tive for withdrawal of thegun from the casing without firing the'charges, said safety means being essentially controlled by way of predeter mined movement or the positioning means.

65. A perforating gun adapted to be used well casing, means for positioning the gun to det sired depth inside said casing, projectiles and" explosive charges for the projectiles arranged in the gun for propelling the projectiles upon ignition of the explosive charges, and firing means i for igniting the explosive'charges. including E means normally under compression during the positioning of the gun and. being releasable through predetermined utilization; of the positioning means when it is desired to let the firing means operate for igniting theexplosive charges.

66. A perforating gun adapted to be used in well casing, means for positioning thegun to desired depth inside said casing; projectiles and explosive charges for the projectiles arranged in the gun for propelling the projectiles upon igni-L tion of the explosive charges, and firing means for igniting the explosive charges, including means normally under compression during the positioning of the gun and being releasable through predetermined utilization of the posiincluding means essentially controlled by way of tioning means when it is desired'to allow and cause the firing means the explosive charges.

67. A perforating gun for well casings com prising a stock having -a chamber, means for pla'cing said gun in a well casing, an explosive charge in the chamber, a projectilemounted in the stock to be ejected therefrom by the explo-" sion of the charge, a primer charge in the stock arranged to ignite the explosive charge, and means for firing the primer charge arranged to be rendered efiective or inefiective, or both, 7 through manipulation of the placement; means. I

68. A perforatin gun for .well casings com-. prising means for lowering the gun to desired depth therein, leverage mechanism for use in control of the operation of the gun, said leverage mechanism including a device on an outward -side of the gun, and including means,for controlling the mechanism, andmeans for utilizing said device by means of predetermined utilization of the lowering means. i J l LONNIE E..COUCH. I

to operate for igniting 

